PUNCH
A 33-year-old blind mother, Agnes Forte, whose one-year-old child went missing while playing in their compound in Akowonjo area of Lagos State, talks to VICTORIA EDEME, about the circumstances that led to the disappearance of her child
How and when did you first realise that your child was missing?
My name is Agnes Forte. I am 33 years old. My daughter, Excel, is one year and nine months old. I am from Oji Local Government, Benue State, but my husband is a Benin man. I live at No. 9 Lambe Street, Akowonjo, Lagos State. It happened on November 28, 2023, around 1:30 pm. My daughter (Excel) was with my stepdaughter (Joy) shortly before they both went missing. She (Excel) was playing inside the house before she opened the door and went outside to play in the corridor. I told my 13-year-old stepdaughter to help me bring her inside the house, but my child refused to come inside. So I asked Joy to stay with her. After a few seconds, I didn’t hear their voices again. I went to the door to call them but nobody answered. I then called my neighbours to help me look around for them. They (the neighbours) came outside and searched everywhere including the bathroom and backyard but could not find them. Then I entered the house to carry my phone so that I could call their father. It was when I reached to collect my phone and money that I realised that the N3,500 I kept and my ATM card were missing. It then dawned on me that Joy had collected my money. I also discovered that some of my baby’s clothes, shoes, wrapper, Joy’s school bag, cream, and towel, were also missing. Since then, we haven’t seen or heard from them again.
What are your proofs that Joy indeed took your child away? Did she reach out to you?
I am sure Joy is the one who carried my child, not anybody else. I haven’t seen or heard from them since then.
Are there any potential motives or reasons why Joy may be behind your child’s disappearance?
I don’t know what I did to Joy. I took her like my own daughter. I have a child like her who stays with me. She’s 14 years old and they are always together. How can I maltreat someone’s child in my condition? No issue between us will propel her to do what she did; It’s so surprising to me. That same day she took my child away, I sent her to go and grind pepper. I later heard that she told the woman grinding the pepper that she was going to her paternal grandmother’s place.
Have you been in contact with Joy’s grandmother?
Yes, we were always in communication and she even came to my house after Excel’s disappearance. When I called grandma, she said Joy didn’t come to her place and she hasn’t seen her since then. Joy was staying with her grandma before she was brought to stay with us on January 19, 2023.
Have there been any unusual or suspicious activities in your neighbourhood or community that might be related to your child’s disappearance?
I have been suspecting my stepdaughter’s movement since October. Joy always sneaks out to have conversations with one of our neighbours. I don’t usually hear what they say because they speak in hushed tones. I asked her who she always talked to and she confirmed that it was our neighbour, whom everybody calls AY. I also asked her what they were discussing and she said nothing, and that he was only asking her questions. Joy is not a straightforward person and she doesn’t open up about issues.
Following your child’s disappearance, did you ask your neighbour if he knew about Joy’s whereabouts?
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